Final answer:
The persuasion scale mentioned represents an ideological spectrum with extremities indicating strong opposition or support for a speaker. Central route persuasion with logical, fact-based arguments can impact where individuals align on this scale, especially if their beliefs are not deeply entrenched. However, polarization, as seen in recent studies, suggests that people with polarized views may be less open to persuasion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The persuasion scale that the question describes is akin to the ideological spectrum, often used to represent political beliefs, where liberal ideologies are placed on the left end and conservative ideologies on the right. The extreme ends represent strong opposition (left) and strong support (right) for the speaker's position, respectively. Those at the far ends have strong, possibly polarized views, whereas individuals in the middle of the scale exhibit moderate views and may balance the beliefs of the extremes.
It's essential to understand that the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) explains how attitudes can change, based on the quality of the arguments presented and the audience's pre-existing beliefs and ability to process the information. If an individual's ideology is weakly supported by their beliefs, they are more likely to experience an ideological shift, particularly if presented with persuasive arguments via the central route, which relies on logic and facts.
Moreover, the current polarization in political beliefs, as identified in studies such as those conducted by Pew Research, also affects the effectiveness of persuasion. Polarization indicates that beliefs have become more widely opposed, which means that individuals at the far ends of the scale may be more resistant to persuasion, especially if they have a strong commitment to their political party.